Emma Morel Adler

Emma Morel Adler
Savannah, GA
Emma Morel Adler, a native Savannahian, was born on March 11th, 1930 to John and Emma Walthour Morel, in Savannah, Georgia. She died peacefully July 12th, 2020, at age 90.
Emma grew up in downtown Savannah, on the south side of Hall Street between Abercorn and Lincoln. Her grandmother, Emma Roberts Walthour, lived next door. She attended The Pape School in Savannah, where she established a firm foundation in the Arts and Humanities as well as developing many life-long friendships. She continued her education by attending boarding school at Westover School in Middlebury, Connecticut and went on to college at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, where she received a BA in French in 1952. After returning to Savannah, Emma took a job as a reporter at the Savannah Morning News.
Emma met Leopold (Lee) Adler II, also a native Savannahian, at a Christmas party and was immediately smitten. Lee and Emma were married September 12, 1953, and settled into a home in Ardsley Park. They had two children, Leopold Adler III and John Morel Adler. John has two children, Margaret (Meta) Adler and Leopold Adler IV. Emma and Lee were married for more than 50 years before Lee passed away in 2012 at 88 years young. Emma's love for her family was consistent and never failing.
Emma devoted her life to advocating for the city of Savannah and its preservation. She volunteered on numerous boards, including: The Junior League of Savannah, The Savannah-Chatham County Board of Public Education, The Georgia Humanities Council, The National Federation of Humanities Council, Historic Savannah Foundation, The Telfair Museum, and The Ossabaw Island Foundation. She was a member of the Georgia Historical Society and The National Trust for Historic Preservation. She was also President of the Friends of Massie Committee, Savannah's oldest public school. (Her father had been a student at Massie).
Emma's special interests were history and art. She loved music and sang in many choirs and choruses. She loved all animals, especially dogs, most of which she rescued from the streets. Emma, together with Lee, were ardent advocates for historic preservation, locally, nationally, and internationally, for which they won numerous awards. Emma was awarded the Davenport Trophy for Outstanding Contributions in the Field of Historic Preservation in 1967 among other awards from the Historic Savannah Foundation and Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation. She was awarded the Governor's Award in the Humanities in 2002 and named a Savannah Women of Vision by SCAD in 2016.
Emma was a strong and vivacious woman. She stood up for causes she believed in and was never hesitant to write letters to the editor, Congressmen, Senators, and even Presidents! She loved the outdoors, especially the coastal Barrier Islands of Georgia and swimming in the Vernon River. Together, with Lee, they shared a passion for travel and experiencing other cultures. They traveled to 42 countries, and particularly loved Thailand, India, Spain, Portugal and Russia. As she always said, "there was never a dull moment."
She is survived by her son, John Morel Adler and his wife Leigh Ann; granddaughter Margaret (Meta) Lawrence Adler, and grandson Leopold (Lee) Adler IV and his wife Allison Lindley. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leopold Adler II and son Leopold Adler III.
"He prayeth best, who loveth best
All things both great and small;
For the dear God who loveth us,
He made and loveth all."
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
A private graveside service will be held at Bonaventure Cemetery.
Remembrances may be made to: Historic Savannah Foundation, P. O. Box 1733, Savannah, Georgia 31402, St. John's Church, 1 W. Macon Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401, or the charity of your choice.
Savannah Morning News
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